Eurovision 2016: Grand final to be shown on US TV for first time ever
THE Eurovision Song Contest is set to be broadcast in America for the very first time when it airs later this month, it's been confirmed.
Eurovision 2014 winner Conchita Wurst
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has struck a deal with US cable network Logo to air the event, which is being hosted from Stockholm on May 14.
Last year's competition - which marked the 60th anniversary of the flamboyant singing show - saw Sweden take the crown when representative Måns Zelmerlöw won with the song "Heroes".
But in its 60 years in production, the show has never before been broadcast by an American network.
Logo is a four-year-old channel, and reaches 50 million American homes. It typically aims its content at the LGBT community, and has plugged the Eurovision Song Contest as "the biggest, boldest, campiest music competition on earth" on its website.
Graham Norton took over from the late Sir Terry Wogan as the UK's commentator
Celine Dion won the contest in 1988 when she represented Switzerland
Bucks Fizz, the 1981 winners of the Eurovision Song Contest for Great Britain
John Kennedy O'Connor, a longtime Eurovision commentator and author of The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History, believes this to be a "great move" on the show organisers' part.
"I've always thought Eurovision would work very well for PBS in the USA and wondered why there had not been any interest before in showing it," he said. "The highest online audience has always been in the USA so clearly there is an interest and appetite for the show."
Eurovision executive Jon Ola Sand highlighted that the show has finally been given the opportunity to appear "in one of the biggest TV markets for the very first time".
He went on to say: "We are extremely happy that US viewers now get to join those all over Europe, Australia and Asia in experiencing the grand final of the world's longest running annual TV music competition."
The contest is known for its flamboyancy
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Lulu won with her hit "Boom Bang-a-Bang"
Never before has the show aired on US TV
We are extremely happy that US viewers now get to join those all over Europe, Australia and Asia in experiencing the grand final of the world's longest running annual TV music competition
As the executive pointed out, the show has evolved gradually from being a purely Euro-centric competition. Last year saw Australia compete for the first time. Intended to be a one-off entry, they were shortly given the go ahead to enter into the 2016 contest as well. They are the second country outside of Eurasia, other than Morocco, to take part.
Eurovision began in 1956 with just seven European countries. But today, the contest continues to grow.
This year will see the largest number of competitors since 2011, with 42 countries entering, requiring a four-day event of semi-finals and finals. Last year's final shows saw nearly 200 million viewers tune in to watch.
The Eurovision Song Contest final will air in the UK at 8pm on May 14; and via simulcast on Logo in the US at 3pm ET. It will also be streamed on Logo's website and mobile app.